- Computer hackers write code. Code tells computers what
to do.
- By writing code that performs actions (or default actions)
consistent with the hacker's ethics, the hacker has
instrumented his/her ethics.
- Modern examples: Compare the (hopefully-not-vaporware)
cDc's Project X and
Freenet to
your average rootkit. The difference is in the examples and
the documentation.
- Fundamental points:
- Hackers are learners. Many hackers are teachers. Since
ethics, like hacking, is taught, hackers can teach ethics while
they teach hacking.
- Ethics shape behavior. We can bring about what we value
by encoding ethical behaviors in computer programs.
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